Author Topic: Photographer Arrested For Being “Too Tall” (Read 5944 times)

lephotography · « **on:** July 18, 2009, 00:56 »

http://www.prisonplanet.com/photographer-arrested-for-being-too-tall.html

Article about photographer being arrested for being too tall. Some one felt threatened when they had their picture taken because the man was 5′ 11″.

What is this world coming to? what

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #1 on:** July 18, 2009, 01:49 »

Not that I think the police is all innocent, but this guy simply could have shown some more cooperation and I am sure he would not have been arrested.

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2009, 12:37 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on July 18, 2009, 01:49

Not that I think the police is all innocent, but this guy simply could have shown some more cooperation and I am sure he would not have been arrested.

Come ON!! You would show your ID to a couple of buffoons, rent-s-cops at best, because they asked you to?? Get serious. This sort of stuff drives me nuts. Say anything at all and you become an instant threat? Everyone loves a police state, right?

sharpshot · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2009, 14:09 »

I would have no problem letting the police know who I was and what I was doing. Sometimes they act stupidly but taking their photos and then not telling them who you are and what you are doing when questioned seems like a stupid thing to do as well. What is wrong with being polite?

We might have the right to take photos but perhaps we should respect others doing their job at the same time?

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2009, 14:28 »

The article quotes,

" They did not identify themselves, but demanded that he show them some ID and warned that if he failed to comply, they would summon police officers to deal with him.
This they did, and a PCSO and WPC quickly joined the fray."

who were these guys and what right did they have asking for ID.

sharpshot · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2009, 16:25 »

Quote from: Zeus on July 18, 2009, 14:28

The article quotes,

" They did not identify themselves, but demanded that he show them some ID and warned that if he failed to comply, they would summon police officers to deal with him.
This they did, and a PCSO and WPC quickly joined the fray."

who were these guys and what right did they have asking for ID.

From his blog, "I saw a badge attached to one of the men’s waistband and saw the logo of Kent Police."

Perhaps a voluntary special constable? I used to know one of them, it is funny but his real job was a press photographer. http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/specials/overview.html

RacePhoto · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2009, 13:26 »

Quote

At the time of this incident, a police officer responded to a report concerning a man who was taking photographs of buildings and people in Chatham town centre. When challenged by the police officer the man refused to give any personal details which it was thought was suspicious.

1) They ask, I show them my ID and they go away.
Or
2) I refuse to show them an ID, they arrest me, until they can identify me and why I'm refusing and 20 minutes later release me.

Ask yourself which path is easier?

This isn't rocket science. If someone didn't have a camera and was stopped for unknown reasons, by a rent-a-cop or security or the police, and asked for identification, wouldn't it be reasonable to show them an ID and get it over with? While I agree that someone taking photos, isn't suspicious and doesn't warrant extra attention, the guy brought this on himself.

puravida · « **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2009, 13:37 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on July 20, 2009, 13:26

Quote
At the time of this incident, a police officer responded to a report concerning a man who was taking photographs of buildings and people in Chatham town centre. When challenged by the police officer the man refused to give any personal details which it was thought was suspicious.

1) They ask, I show them my ID and they go away.
Or
2) I refuse to show them an ID, they arrest me, until they can identify me and why I'm refusing and 20 minutes later release me.

Ask yourself which path is easier?

This isn't rocket science. If someone didn't have a camera and was stopped for unknown reasons, by a rent-a-cop or security or the police, and asked for identification, wouldn't it be reasonable to show them an ID and get it over with? While I agree that someone taking photos, isn't suspicious and doesn't warrant extra attention, the guy brought this on himself.

It's all in the attitude, really.
Regardless of what you think, you don't question the dudes with the authority to boot you out of the vicinity. Checkpoint, airport xray booth,etc..
Like they always tell me, "You let me do my job, I'll leave you alone to do your job". Simple as that. Most times, cooperation takes you further .

My guess is, this guy just enjoys playing heavy.
Or the sort who probably screams at mother calling him down for breakfast. Or the sort that stomp on his gf 's face. Or bitch when having to stand in line ,etc.
If you know what I mean. You meet those sods everywhere you travel.

Even more surprising that he would take a job as a photographer where you are bound to meet security, police,etc... You're a man with a camera. Be it in a supermart, mall, fashion show, etc... you show your credentials when approached. And no problem .

He's lucky he isn't in a country where security's don't ask much questions after being ignored, they carry guns with bullets . Or they call the black maria and scoot you off to where no one will notice you're missed.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2009, 19:29 »

There's something on the Guardian's web site about this story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/henryporter/2009/jul/16/photography-police-view-delete-images

If you look at the pictures of where the guy was in the middle of the day in an area full of retail shops - not a power plant, or train station or airport or any place that could remotely be described as sensitive, it helps to get a bit of context on this story.

http://monaxle.com/page/2/

The guy may be a jerk, but it is beyond outrageous that in a public street you need to give your name and ID because a council employee (not even a police officer) asks. He made a choice to confront the issue (so I assume he didn't have anywhere important to be and wouldn't have lost his job for being late back to work after lunch) and perhaps he'd have done better for himself to avoid it. However I'll stick to photographing tourist attractions next time I'm in the UK as it's clear street photography is a risky business there these days.

On his blog he talks about going back at 11 at night and being stopped again. This time he gave his ID and was shooting digital (first time it was film so he couldn't show them what he shot). He apparently was told he'd probably have been arrested if he'd refused to give ID.

I was born and raised in the UK and I find this all rather sad. The idea that you can't go about your business in a public street on an ordinary day (i.e. not in the middle of a riot) without explaining yourself to the police is distressing.

le_cyclope · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2009, 19:57 »

Please please tell me that Police Officers are not that dumb to think that a terrorist or a thief or whoever with bad ideas would go out in the street taking pictures of his «target» with a big DSLR... With all the phones and P&S these days, one can take all the pictures he wants without being noticed. Not to mention Google Earth and such...

So for some more «security», should they stop and arrest anyone using a cellphone?

Claude

RacePhoto · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2009, 23:45 »

Quote from: le_cyclope on July 20, 2009, 19:57

Please please tell me that Police Officers are not that dumb to think that a terrorist or a thief or whoever with bad ideas would go out in the street taking pictures of his «target» with a big DSLR... With all the phones and P&S these days, one can take all the pictures he wants without being noticed. Not to mention Google Earth and such...

So for some more «security», should they stop and arrest anyone using a cellphone?

Claude

I'd like to tell you, but we keep seeing articles and reports in the UK with the same scenario. Person taking photos in public with a camera, doing nothing wrong, being stopped for no reason at all. Ya, some sneaky terrorist with a big camera, standing 5'11"... plain dumb. Guy in the NY subway platform, with a ticket, trying to take a shot for the photo contest sponsored by the railroad, and he gets arrested?

On the other hand, I was only expressing that if I was stopped, as I have been, I show them my ID and they go away.

Good point that anyone with a cell phone would be more suspicious. Why would anyone want to take a crummy photo with a cell phone?

ps He wasn't arrested for "being too tall" it was for refusing to identify himself. Might as well get the facts straight.

CCK · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2009, 01:32 »

I'm 6'4" so I better be extra careful.

ShadySue · « **Reply #12 on:** July 27, 2009, 16:51 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on July 18, 2009, 01:49

Not that I think the police is all innocent, but this guy simply could have shown some more cooperation and I am sure he would not have been arrested.

Are we talking Kent, UK???
In the UK, we don't have to carry ID, and I would very seldom have any on me. I don't carry my passport or driver's license (an old one, without a photo in any case) with me. Loads of people don't have a passport or drivers' licence. This is simply ludicrous, and I hope the tall guy puts in an official complaint.
(So far, I've found it beneficial to be a middle-aged female, and I always try to 'make like a tourist'.)

Red Dove · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2009, 04:32 »

Unfortunately this isn't just about whether you might be a terrorist or not. There is a level of paranoia in the UK (mostly generated by the press) about the taking of any pictures that contain children in public places, no matter how innocent your intentions.

Photos have appeared on websites frequented by the deviants of our society and naturally the authorities are on the lookout for this activity.

Best to produce your ID or ask for permission to make photographs. It's sad but is not likely to go away tomorrow so we have to adapt.

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Author Topic: Photographer Arrested For Being “Too Tall” (Read 5944 times)

lephotography

Freezingpictures

PeterChigmaroff

sharpshot

PeterChigmaroff

sharpshot

RacePhoto

puravida

Jo Ann Snover

le_cyclope

RacePhoto

CCK

ShadySue

Red Dove

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